Group Therapy

Description

Southgang is one of the countless "pretty boy" hard rock bands that emerged from the hair metal craze in the late '80s. The band played respectable hard rock, loaded with hooks, with a slight Southern influence, but grunge was already taking over and ending the careers of bands like Southgang.
Formed in Rome, Georgia, under the name Byte The Bullet, Jesse Harte (vocals), Butch Walker (guitar), Jayce Fincher (bass), and Mitch McLee quickly made their way to the lights of Sunset Strip in Los Angeles. Less than a year after their arrival, the band was headlining, attracting the interest of major labels and deciding to change their name from Byte The Bullet to Southgang.
Partnering with multi-platinum songwriter Desmond Child, the band's debut (around the same time as other highly melodic Hard Rock bands like Firehouse, Slaughter, Warrant...) began to attract the attention of record-buying audiences and MTV viewers. The band resembles the aforementioned groups in many ways, but with a few major differences: a talent for merging various styles and grooves of Hard Rock, then creating intriguing song arrangements and catchy choruses, and finally employing studio tricks and techniques to add spice and zest. With a punchy rhythm section made up of bassist Jayce Fincher and drummer Mitch McLee, a wickedly wild guitarist in Butch Walker, and a powerful and versatile singer in Jesse Harte, Southgang seemed to have it all, including the help of Desmond Child, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (Steely Dan/Doobie Brothers), and Kane Roberts (Alice Cooper), who assisted the band during songwriting, recording, and production. They were not a "cookie-cutter hair band" of the time, but a group that benefited not only from top-notch support but also mastered their instruments. Moreover, the musicians had a knack for incorporating many surprises into each song, whether it was rhythm breaks or unexpected key changes, inventive fills on drums, bass, or guitar, or the addition of a brass section, harmonica and cowbells, light Hammond organ and honky-tonk piano, acoustic and slide guitar, and the aforementioned toy box, and even a case of female background vocals, all giving Southgang that "unpredictable factor" that set them apart from their contemporaries. And with ultra-catchy choruses, a budding "guitar hero" within, energetic performances, and a raucous atmosphere, as well as smooth yet robust studio production, the band truly seemed destined for greatness. Produced by Howard Benson (Bang Tango, Little Caesar) Keith Olsen (Whitesnake, Ozzy).
Forget the polite Southern ways, Southgang's second album, Group Therapy, is a real game changer. Touring, playing naked (yes, really!), and returning to their hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, gave birth to a hard, fast, dirty, and mean band and album, without losing Southgang's catchy and upbeat vibe. This is not "Gone with the Wind," and Southgang doesn't care, as evidenced by the infectious grooves of Group Therapy. If you had the mistaken impression that Southgang is just fluff, Group Therapy will dispel that rumor. Following the album Tainted Angel released in 1991, Southgang's new record features tasty songs ranging from introspective and traditional to exuberant and mean "White Trash With Cash," through the hard and edgy "Tug Of War" and the infectious tale "The Legend of C.C. Road."
The boys from Georgia are no strangers to feel-good songs: the title track of Tainted Angel received massive airplay, and after its debut on "Headbanger's Ball," MTV placed the video in "Ballbuster of the Week." In that niche, competing with some of the hottest bands in the world, "Tainted Angel" won for six consecutive weeks. In 1991, Southgang toured clubs and opened for major headliners, allowing them to hone their craft and get their fans buzzing. This time spent on the road gave the band a clear idea of what they wanted to put on their second album. And they succeeded in achieving that goal, even going so far as to combine two products to get the exact sound they wanted for Group Therapy.
Group Therapy was recorded live.